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Pollinate Happiness field-trip sheet · September

Wawapek Preserve

Address: Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
Host: North Shore Land Alliance · Installed: June 2021

Getting there: Wawapek Preserve is open to the public from dawn to dusk. Park in the small lot off Shore Road and follow the meadow trail.

Name ______________________   Date __________   Time ______   Weather ______________

QR code linking to the Wawapek Preserve planter page
Scan for photos and plant profiles

What is planted here

  • Purple Coneflower (blooms Jun to Sep)
  • Common Milkweed (blooms Jun to Aug)
  • Bee Balm (blooms Jul to Aug)
  • Goldenrod (blooms Aug to Oct)
  • Black-Eyed Susan (blooms Jun to Sep)

Look for in September

  • Purple Coneflower in bloom
  • Goldenrod in bloom
  • Black-Eyed Susan in bloom
  • Purple Coneflower seed heads or pods
  • Common Milkweed seed heads or pods
  • Bee Balm seed heads or pods
  • Black-Eyed Susan seed heads or pods
  • Bumble bees on the purple coneflower
  • Butterflies on the purple coneflower
  • Skippers on the purple coneflower
  • Goldfinches eating purple coneflower seeds

Did you know? (Purple Coneflower) Bumble bees, sweat bees, and butterflies work the disk florets all summer; silvery checkerspot caterpillars eat the leaves.

Student worksheet

  1. 1. Observe. Stand still for one minute and watch the flowers. Make a tally mark for every insect that lands.

  2. 2. Count. Pick one plant from the list. How many flowers or seed heads does it have right now? Is it budding, blooming, going to seed, or resting for winter?

  3. 3. Sketch. In the box, draw one visitor (an insect or bird) or one flower head. Label at least two parts.

  4. 4. Compare. Which plant had the most visitors? What about it (color, shape, height, smell) might explain that?

  5. 5. Connect. Look around the planter: lawn, pavement, trees, other gardens? Where do you think today's visitors came from, and where will they go next?

For the teacher

Before or after the visit, try these free activities. Answer keys cover every game.

Please stay on paths, leave plants and seed heads in place, and check host hours before you go. Planter page: pollinatehappiness.com/installations/wawapek